Curriculum - PSHE
PSHE underpins life at Bridgtown Primary.
We believe that nurturing happy and healthy children is central to all aspects of their learning and development.
We believe that our children should acquire the ability to make informed, healthy and moral choices in their lives and recognize that they should play a positive role in the school and the wider community.
We endeavour to deliver a PSHE curriculum that will enable our children to become confident, independent members of society with an awareness of their rights and responsibilities as individuals and as part of a diverse society.
Curriculum Rationale
At Bridgtown, we believe that PSHE plays a vital part of primary education and is integrated throughout our curriculum. In addition, we ensure that children receive regular weekly PSHE lessons which focus on key objectives and skills. Through the use of ‘Jigsaw’ we have adopted a whole school approach with all year groups working on the same theme at the same time but at varying levels.
Jigsaw consists of different puzzle pieces:
Being Me In My World covers a wide range of topics, including a sense of belonging, welcoming others and being part of a school community, a wider community, and a global community; it also looks at children’s rights and responsibilities, working and socialising with others, and pupil voice.
Celebrating Difference focuses on similarities and differences and teaches about diversity, such as disability, racism, power, friendships, and conflict; children learn to accept everyone’s right to ‘difference’, and most year groups explore the concept of ‘normal’; bullying – what it is and what it isn’t, including cyber and homophobic bullying –
Changing Me focuses on our bodies and use of correct vocabulary for naming body parts in order to keep us safe. We look at he changes our bodies go through during puberty.
Relationships has a wide focus, looking at diverse topics such as families, friendships, pets and animals, and love and loss. A vital part of this Puzzle is about safeguarding and keeping children safe; this links to cyber safety and social networking, as well as attraction and assertiveness; children learn how to deal with conflict, their own strengths and self-esteem. They have the chance to explore roles and responsibilities in families, and look at stereotypes. All Jigsaw lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs
Healthy Me covers two main areas of health: Emotional health (relaxation, being safe, friendships, mental health skills, body image, relationships with food, managing stress) and Physical health (eating a balanced diet, physical activity, rest and relaxation, keeping clean, drugs and alcohol, being safe, first aid) in order for children to learn that health is a very broad topic.
Dreams and Goals aims to help children think about their hopes and dreams, their goals for success, what personal strengths are, and how to overcome challenges,
via team work skills and tasks. There is also a focus on enterprise and fundraising. Children learn about experiencing and managing feelings of pride, ambition, disappointment, success; and they get to share their aspirations, the dreams and goals of others in different cultures/countries, and their dreams for the world.
Each phase builds on the vocabulary, knowledge and skills taught in the previous year to allow children to acquire further knowledge, know more and remember more. There are always occasions where teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen in their own class and we encourage this where possible.
The curriculum at Bridgtown identifies links to British Values, SMSC and key skills into the curriculum.
PSHE in EYFS
PSHE is deeply embedded throughout the EYFS curriculum. Children are supported to build constructive and respectful relationships that allow them to play, learn and develop alongside both adults and their peers. This enables them to build friendships and to manage any conflict with the support of adults. Through our schemes ‘Jigsaw’ and ‘My happy mind’ they are given the tools to be able to express their feelings and emotions and to be supported in beginning to manage them independently. Children are taught to manage their own physical needs and understand the importance of respecting others privacy. A large part of the curriculum in the Early Years supports the developing resilience within young children, children are encouraged to persevere to meet their goals and targets. As a part of the learning journey experienced in the Early Years developing the understanding of rules and routines is an integral part that runs parallel to all.
What does PSHE look like in EYFS?
PSHE in KS1 & KS2
At Bridgtown Primary School it is our intent that all children will be ‘lifelong learners’ with the confidence and ability to develop their skills and understanding when having new experiences, meeting new challenges and finding themselves in unfamiliar situations. We offer a nurturing learning environment in which each child is encouraged to develop their full potential and where successes and achievements are celebrated and rewarded. As a school, we believe that children are all individuals and therefore, we aim to encourage mutual respect, responsibility and self-esteem in a happy and caring atmosphere. The teaching and learning of PSHE using the Jigsaw programme supports this. Through using Jigsaw our children acquire knowledge, understanding and the skills they need to manage their lives now and in their futures. It develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society and the global community.
Jigsaw is implemented throughout the whole school during weekly whole class Jigsaw lessons focussing on different topics each term and is embedded through all lessons and the whole school day with everyone supporting and encouraging the children they interact with to use the skills they are developing and to make links to other areas of learning.
Jigsaw deals with the diverse beliefs, values and attitudes that individuals and societies hold. It helps pupils develop themselves, their understanding of the world and their ability to communicate their feelings. Children at Bridgtown Primary School also develop an understanding of British values that are necessary if they are to make sense of their experiences, value themselves, respect others, appreciate differences and feel confident and informed as a British Citizen.
